Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt said veterans who need mental health care in urgent cases should be treated with the same priority as those who need urgent medical care for physical maladies.

Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt said veterans who need mental health care in urgent cases should be treated with the same priority as those who need urgent medical care for physical maladies.

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Updated: 5:31 PM CDT May 29, 2014

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WEBVTT NEARLY 100 LAWMAKERS - REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS - HAVE CALLED FOR SHINSEKI TO RESIGN. MISSOURI SENATOR ROY BLUNT SAYS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR VETERANS OUGHT TO BE TREATED LIKE PERSONAL HEALTH ISSUES. BLUNT WAS IN KANSAS CITY TODAY, AS THE PROBLEMS OF THE VETERANS ADMISTRATION CONTINUE. KMBC 9'S MICHEAL MAHONEY HAS MORE: SENATOR BLUNT, WHO'S A MEMBER OF THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, SPOKE TO SOME MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS HERE AT A WING OF THE TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTER IN THE CROSSROADS DISTRICT. BLUNT WAS ASKED ABOUT THE DEATH OF KANSAS CITY VETERAN ISSAC SIMS. BLUNT LISTENED AS HE WAS TOLD HOW SIMS WAS KILLED BY POLICE DURING A STAND-OFF. LAST WEEK SIMS HAD TRIED TWICE TO GET HELP FROM THE V-A TO DEAL WITH WAR RELATED STRESS. HIS FAMILY YOU HAVE TO EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT THAT'S THE PERSON THAT HAS TO SEE SOMEONE THAT DAY. BUT IF THEY NEED TO SEE SOMEONE THAT DAY, A MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM THAT IS IMMINENT IS AS IMMINENT AS A HEART ATTACK. BLUNT IS NOT AMONG THE V-A CRITICS CALLING FOR A MAJOR SHAKE-UP. HE DOESN'T THINK THAT WOULD LEAD TO ANY QUICK IMPROVEMENTS. HE DOES, HOWEVER, FAVOR GIVING THE V-A, AND VETERANS. MORE FLEXIBILITY IN HOW THEIR MEDICAL ISSUES ARE HANDLED. C-3 BOTH BLUNT AND SENATOR CLAIRE MCCASKILL WANT THE ST. LOUIS V-A HOSPITAL REVIEWED. THE KANSAS CITY V-A

Blunt: Give veterans access to urgent mental health care

Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt said veterans who need mental health care in urgent cases should be treated with the same priority as those who need urgent medical care for physical maladies.